The Goldfinger

In 1974, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was established to combat corruption in Singapore. This movement began the fight against corrupt officers within the government, setting the stage for future investigations.

Following the establishment of the ICAC, many corrupt officers protested the ICAC's actions. Led by Sarge, they attempted to riot at the ICAC office but were calmed down by investigator Lau Kai-yuen, prompting them to leave peacefully.

To quell the protests, the government announced an amnesty for minor offenses ahead of the start of 1977. This move aimed to pacify the anger of the corrupt officers and stabilize the situation.

After being laid off from his position in the construction industry, Henry Ching left Singapore seeking new opportunities. He struggled to find work as an engineer in Hong Kong, leading to unforeseen partnerships.

In Hong Kong, Henry partnered with K.K. Tsang for the real estate venture Carmen Century. Despite initial deception about their successes, their partnership flourished, accruing millions over the next eleven years.

Over a span of eleven years, Lau led a detailed investigation against Henry, gathering evidence for an arrest warrant. Despite this, Henry skillfully evaded any charges and continued his business dealings.

In 1982, a significant stock market crash severely impacted Henry's business and strained relationships, particularly with K.K. Tsang. This downturn placed additional pressure on Henry as K.K.'s financial situation worsened.

Faced with mounting debt, K.K. threatened to expose Henry unless he secured funding from their backer, Musharra Hafa. This financial strain leads to decreased trust and growing tension between the two partners.

Under pressure to protect himself, Henry orchestrates the murders of his subordinates, ensuring no incriminating evidence against him remains. This ruthless action, including targeting Kelvin, sends shockwaves through the investigation.

A month later, Henry faces trial but is cleared of all charges when K.K.'s son takes the fall for fraud. This unexpected twist results in K.K.'s son serving a substantial sentence while Henry walks free.

To secure evidence against Henry, Lau tracks down Hafa in the U.K. and attempts to convince him to testify. However, Hafa lives in fear of repercussions, making it difficult for Lau to gather critical information.

Despite Lau's efforts, Hafa refuses to return to Hong Kong for fear of his life, especially after a judge in Henry's previous case is found dead. This complicates Lau's investigation further.

Five years later, in 1988, Henry is put on trial once again due to new evidence involving bribery from U.S. bankers. However, he manages to evade conviction once more when a mistrial is declared over a conflict of interest.

In 1996, Lau secures an extradition order for Hafa, leading to a new trial against Henry. This marks a significant turn where Lau hopes to finally bring Henry to justice after many years of investigations.

Ultimately, Henry is convicted and sentenced to three years in prison. Despite this, Lau reflects on whether the lengthy pursuit of justice was worth it, as Henry's company liquidation leaves many creditors unsatisfied.